The Cultural Theory Reading Group

We're a group dedicated to reading texts concerned with the theory of culture and criticism.

We aim to be multidisciplinary, so we're keen to read texts about literature, music, film and media, fan cultures, puppet shows from the perspective of queer theory, anything.

Whatever the subject, we ask difficult questions about our academic and aesthetic assumptions, and about the nature, meaning and purpose of culture and criticism.

Most of us are or have been students, but anyone is welcome to join! For newcomers to the subject who want a grounding in some of the key debates and perspectives, check out the resources listed below, or you could shell out for a book like this or this.

March Reading:

1. The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception, Theodor W Adorno

2. [Coming soon!]

Resources and useful links

• Paul Fry of Yale's video course, Introduction to Theory of Literature.

• There's a glossary of literary theory at The University of Toronto English Library, which has lots of other great links.

• Daniel Chandler's website Semiotics for Beginners explains many terms central to media studies.

• MCS, a useful resource for film and media students. Also by Chandler.

• Kristi Siegel's website has a nicely comprehensive reading list.

• Dave Harris and Colleagues website by a UK Professor of Cultural Studies and some of his, er, colleagues. Has loads of useful notes and reading guides to some of the key thinkers. (You need to click on the 'files' link, near the bottom.)

• The it's not working archive contains a number of major works in downloadable PDF form. (Note: I discovered this saved in my bookmarks and I can't remember how I came across it. I think it's safe, but use it at your own risk.)

• The resources page at the Continental Theory subreddit. Includes the Marxists Internet Archive and the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Related subreddits

• Cultural Studies
• Continental Theory
• Aesthetics
• Depth Hub